Compare Regent vs Crystal

[TheSeaAroundUs]

I thought we weren't supposed to use this space for advertising purposes. Perhaps I am confusing this board with another one.

 

Oh, well; I can always stop reading. I do have more important things to do....

[shawsie]

I viewed the crystal boards and of course the article was there. Fair Ball. A couple of the comments posted not so much:( but it explains what is being said on this board. I am sure most of us are here to share opinions and information unfortunately this seems to have degenerated into a spitting contest. I do not understand why.:confused:

I suggest that those that want to post relevant information and opinion do so and ignore the rest.

For the record we are considering a crystal cruise for the ballroom dancing and hopefully we will discover another cruise line we like as much as Regent.

Finally just enjoy whoever you cruise with.

[AWED23]

Could it be that Regent scores so well with travel agents because the Regent fares are so high (with a host of inclusions such as excursions, air, pre-cruise hotel, etc.) and that travel agent commissions for Regent itineraries are thus higher than they might be for similar cruises on other luxury lines?

 

Just wondering......

...You are incorrect as to cost comparison....no use going any further.

[AWED23]

Virtuoso is no longer the largest consortium. We were with them for years and found a much better company that prides themselvel in the best land or sea.

:) Thank goodness Halloween is here soon...:D

[WesW]

Shawsie, very well said...we booked a Crystal ballroom dancing cruise in March; have a Silversea cruise we board next week; then we board our favorite lux ship for 17 days in late March--Regent's Voyager..You bet we enjoy whatever cruise we're on and count our blessings we are able to.

Edited October 12, 2011 by Colonel(Ret.)Wes

[Gardendog]

DH and I were on a Windstar cruise a few years back. We did not find it nearly as lux as a Regent cruise.

 

The cabins (yes cabins) were very small, but we spent little time there. The work out room then was a mostly broken down treadmill in front of a port hole. There was hardly any entertainment. On our particular cruise we had a singer/piano player, so we danced a bit when he sang and played. Half way through the cruise (7 day cruise) he left and there was NOTHING. We were supposed to have a deck BBQ, but it was rained out.

 

First night on the cruise, there were no empty chairs to sit for an evening drink, the deck was always packed with not enough seats for everyone at night.

 

The pool is the size of a whirlpool.

 

Positives: We did make good friends on the cruise, had lovely dinners with newly made friends. Because it was so small, we could go to ports where large ships could not go. The port talks were true information, not sales pitches.

 

 

Among our 10 cruises, this was the only cruise where we got billed for things we did not buy, things from the bar in the middle of the night when we were sleeping, buying 2 beers and being billed for 3 etc etc. it was really annoying. We did get it straightened out, but left me with a bad taste.

 

When we got back to St. Thomas, they could not wait to get rid of us. I overheard the crew discussing how to get us to leave the ship as soon as possible, so they threatened with a HUGE ship is about to come to port, better leave before they get all the taxis.

 

DH also saw a large bug, he luckily did not tell me. There were no elevators of course, and a very small stair case. We tendered most places.

 

Bags were scanned upon returning to the ship, and I had bought a souvenir bottle of liquor in one port. They promptly confiscated it, two days before the end of the cruise. I found that insulting.

 

Those are things that led me not to cruise them again and am happy with Regent. These things happened a few years back. Things might have changed.

 

We sailed Azamara this spring since Regent's Carib cruise was the same as the year before. I LIKED Azamara a lot. It's not Regent Lux, but a lot more Lux than the Windstar cruise we were on.

[Suite Travels]

Wendy, I and others are free to post on any board as long it does not violate the TOS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

t

[Threechicks]

But why do you want to when you dislike Regent so much?

[mimito4]

Wendy, I and others are free to post on any board as long it does not violate the TOS.

 

But seriously Miles, and I mean seriously now, what's the point?

 

While you are free to post anywhere on CC, what do you hope to gain? People who have met you know that you are better than what is being displayed here.

 

Strut your stuff. . .your best stuff. This ain't it. :o

 

Hugs,

T

[TheSeaAroundUs]

I just learned how to use the Ignore List!

[SuzK]

I do know one thing that I didn't care for on Crystal: the photographers skill level.

 

There was professional photographer who was terrific (for an extra extra $$$ fee) but the staff who were doing the photos we nice and polite, the photos were awful. Flash right in face and everyone looked washed out or pop-eyed or both. Many attractive people looked haggard and less the attractive looked down right scary.

A few people joked that they bought the photo just to hide the evidence.

 

I mentioned to the photographer that he needed a better flash diffuser but he just shrugged and said they told him to do it this way. Regent has done away with photographers and maybe it's for the best.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I just learned how to use the Ignore List!

 

I can't remember how to do this.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Found it.

[TahoeTraveler]

I can't remember how to do this.

Hey Wendy, for you and anyone else who wants/needs to know (and I'm guessing there are quite a few of us right about now), here's how you do it:

 

- Click on your name on the upper right, where it says, "Welcome, _____"

- Click on "Customize Profile"

- Under Settings and Options, select "Edit Ignore List"

- Add name and hit Okay

 

I must say it is a handy feature.

[TahoeTraveler]

Oops, sorry, Wendy, you found it as I was posting!

[Suite Travels]

Teresa. I am going back to my room now. Please say hello to Don.

 

Dan & Miles

 

We miss you both.!!!

Edited October 13, 2011 by Suite Travels

[cruiseej]

Teresa, your wonderful day-by-day review of your recent Alaska cruise won you a bunch of fans on this forum. If your chiding has now succeeded in getting Suite Travels to stop beating us over the head with repeated pro-Crystal Regent bashing, you have advanced to legendary status! ;)

 

-- Eric

[lkakers]

DH and I were on a Windstar cruise a few years back. We did not find it nearly as lux as a Regent cruise.

 

The cabins (yes cabins) were very small, but we spent little time there. The work out room then was a mostly broken down treadmill in front of a port hole. There was hardly any entertainment. On our particular cruise we had a singer/piano player, so we danced a bit when he sang and played. Half way through the cruise (7 day cruise) he left and there was NOTHING. We were supposed to have a deck BBQ, but it was rained out.

 

First night on the cruise, there were no empty chairs to sit for an evening drink, the deck was always packed with not enough seats for everyone at night.

 

The pool is the size of a whirlpool.

 

Positives: We did make good friends on the cruise, had lovely dinners with newly made friends. Because it was so small, we could go to ports where large ships could not go. The port talks were true information, not sales pitches.

 

 

Among our 10 cruises, this was the only cruise where we got billed for things we did not buy, things from the bar in the middle of the night when we were sleeping, buying 2 beers and being billed for 3 etc etc. it was really annoying. We did get it straightened out, but left me with a bad taste.

 

When we got back to St. Thomas, they could not wait to get rid of us. I overheard the crew discussing how to get us to leave the ship as soon as possible, so they threatened with a HUGE ship is about to come to port, better leave before they get all the taxis.

 

DH also saw a large bug, he luckily did not tell me. There were no elevators of course, and a very small stair case. We tendered most places.

 

Bags were scanned upon returning to the ship, and I had bought a souvenir bottle of liquor in one port. They promptly confiscated it, two days before the end of the cruise. I found that insulting.

 

Those are things that led me not to cruise them again and am happy with Regent. These things happened a few years back. Things might have changed.

 

We sailed Azamara this spring since Regent's Carib cruise was the same as the year before. I LIKED Azamara a lot. It's not Regent Lux, but a lot more Lux than the Windstar cruise we were on.

 

I'm so sorry you did not enjoy your Windstar cruise.

 

As I said a few times in my post, most Regent cruisers would not find Windstar luxe enough for them, but I was just trying to give a view to the folks for whom a simply upscale, completely relaxed, no lines, open dining, casual elegance vibe.

 

As you and I both noted, you really can't bank on their being ANY entertainment on the ship. It's not a priority for me (always happy to read, play cards with shipmates, socialize with shipmates, watch a movie in my staterooom, or simply watch the waves and land go by while sitting on the deck with a post-prandial cocktail or cup of tea/coffee), but if there are folks out there for whom being entertained with shows/music/games is an important part of their cruise, then Windstar is not for them.

 

I don't doubt that you encountered no spaces available on the deck, but it's not something I've run into. It may be that my personal schedule helps that but a few times I know that the pool area is full enough that I've preferred to lounge on the fly bridge (just above the pool area) which is extremely charming, IMHO. (And you're right, the pool is drastically small. Although I love swimming, I've actually never taken a dip in either Regent's or Windstar's pools -- so not a priority, that I forgot to mention the tiny pool! I'm more likely to snorkel or swim in the sea than swim in a pool when on vacation, and water the sports deck on the Windstar ship is really nice for all sorts of water sports (including snorkel/swimming and other more-equipment-involved water sports) right from the ship.

 

I commiserate on the billing -- I often wonder if Regent hasn't figured out that paying their wholesale rate for all the included drinks isn't cheaper than all the personnel costs involved in the accounting nightmare of billing everybody and having to correct mistakes. I do wish Windstar would include drinks... that would be a huge plus. I also wonder if someone wasn't giving your stateroom number instead of their own (either on purpose or accidentally), or if was just employee error. Upsetting, regardless. I'm happy to report I haven't run into this.

 

I'm wondering if you were perhaps on the larger Wind Surf ship, and not one of the smaller ones (Wind Star or Wind Spirit)... I've not been on her, so I don't know if the lack near the pool could be due to the fact that there are 2x the pax on her vs. the other two. And perhaps their rush to get the pax off the ship in St. Thomas? (Though there is no excuse for that -- deplorable. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I thankfully have not run into that on any cruise line, unless you count the usual "it's time for you all to go now... we need to turn the ship... your vacation is OVER" spiel. I've gotten that on all my cruises! :rolleyes: LOL.)

 

Luckily, we've not run into any insects, or having anything confiscated (even though we have brought hard liquor aboard which, unlike wine/soft drinks, is clearly stated as not being allowed and subject to confiscation... we've just been very lucky on that front!). I will admit I haven't had perfect service on Windstar, but I didn't have perfect service on Regent. About the same, so I consider that to be a wash. Lovely, not perfect.

 

My parents, whose 2 favorite cruiselines are Windstar and Regent as well have sailed the Wind Surf, but much prefer the intimacy of the smaller ships. Just to show that a Regent customer can enjoy Windstar, my parents have been on probably 20 Windstar cruises and 15-20 Regent ones, going back to Radisson Song of Flower (Gold status). Still love both.

 

So, I do agree with you, Windstar is definitely not for every Regent cruiser, but it could be an option for some.

[TheSeaAroundUs]

Ikakers, it sure sounds like it's for me!!!

 

I could do without the shows -- not that I don't enjoy them!, but books are my primary entertainment ... I think that I would relish the differences. Sails to look at (even if they're not used often), a much smaller ship, less-trodden small ports ... a more relaxed tone to operations overall....

 

I do hope to try them some day; many thanks to you for your intriguing informational review.

[Gardendog]

It does not really matter, each cruise is wonderful. I was just stating that Windstar is NOT Regent. It was one of the smaller ships, Windspirit I believe, it's the one that cruises the Carib. I think we had 114 passengers on board when we sailed. We met friends, as I said and had a good time. It was due to the friends, not so much the ship. Just my personal opinion.

 

When I say that there was NO entertainment, I mean NONE. I am not talking about a show, there was no music, nothing at all at night except the bar and the very tiny casino, and we don't gamble. We visited with friends, it was fine, but don't expect anything going on AT ALL at night, unless it has changed. Since the cabins were so extremely tiny, it was imperative to be in a lounge. We were, but there was nothing going on. Anyway, that is my impression, YMMV.

 

We really like to take a few turns around the dance floor while cruising, so that alone would stop me from going back on Windstar.

[F5Loar]

For more info on this topic please see any of the 2,000,000 threads already posted.

This might be a good thing to advise if it were not for the fact that like many things in this world, cruise lines/ships do change over sometimes a short period of time therefore reading comparisons from 2 years ago won't tell you much about the one you will sail on next year. I like up to date info. on anything I do. Changes to both these lines have taken place in the past few years.

[Travelcat2]

This thread may be a good idea but all of the information is obsolete. I suggest starting a new thread.